Iphone 5 sales push Apple ahead of Android in the US

GADGET DESIGNER Apple must be feeling especially smug today, as IOS has overtaken Android in the US.

That's according to research firm Kantar Worldpanel Comtech, whose third quarter 2012 numbers show that IOS has once again pushed past Android in the US. The statistics show that IOS now has a 48.1 percent share of US smartphone sales, compared to Android's 46.7 percent share.

Unsurprisingly, the research firm says Apple's growth is thanks to bumper sales of the Iphone 5, which was released towards the end of September. The research firm also revealed that 92 percent of existing Apple owners in the US said they will choose an Iphone the next time they upgrade.

Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel Comtech said, "The last time we saw IOS overtake Android in the US was when the Iphone 4S was released and Apple managed to retain its lead for three consecutive periods.

"This time we predict that Apple will beat its previous high of 49.3 [percent] and achieve its highest ever share of the US smartphone market within the next two periods."

While Apple certainly has bragging rights in the US, IOS isn't doing quite so well here in Europe. The same report reveals that Google's mobile operating system accounts for a bumper 73.9 percent of sales in Germany and a massive 81.7 percent in Spain. UK statistics are yet to be revealed.

Sunnebo said, "Germany remains a tough market for Apple with its share falling by 5.1 percentage points over the past year. The Samsung Galaxy S3 has taken almost a quarter of the country's smartphone sales over the past 12 weeks to boost Android yet further."

More interestingly, today's report shows that Windows Phone now has 11.7 percent market share in Italy - way up from its minute share last year.

"In Italy, strong sales of the Nokia Lumia 610, the fourth best selling handset over the past 12 weeks, and the Nokia Lumia 800, the seventh best selling, have helped drive Windows' share up to 11.7 [percent] - the highest across Europe," Sunnebo added. µ